An Unlocked Heart(Collars & Cuffs Stories) (33 page)

A
LEX
paused at the front gate, staring up at the house for a moment. He’d lived all his life here, and although he’d been desperately trying to save up enough to move out, he’d never expected to find himself so devoid of emotion at the prospect of finally leaving the nest. Recent events had brought him to the point where he could no longer entertain the thought of spending even one more day here.

Leo’s hand came to rest against his lower back. Alex half turned toward him with a grateful smile before gazing once more at the place that hadn’t felt like home for a good many years now. “What time is help arriving?” he inquired. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Leo glancing at his watch.

“Well, it’s 10:00 a.m., and Miles and the others will be here about ten thirty.” Leo slipped his arm around Alex’s waist.

Alex turned to him, eyebrows raised, a half smile playing about his lips. “The
others
?” The half smile evolved into a genuine expression of amusement. “Just who are these
others
, and how many of them are going to descend upon my parents’ doorstep?”

Leo grinned sheepishly. “I, erm… I may have asked a few of the Doms if they wanted to help,” he said at last, his cheeks flushing slightly as Alex’s brows arched even higher.

“Just how many is a few?” Alex demanded, lips already twitching at the thought of several Doms from the club who could possibly put in an appearance. Dear God, his parents were going to flip out!

Leo wasn’t even attempting to hide his amusement now. “Maybe five or six? Miles happened to mention you needed help, and they couldn’t volunteer fast enough. Trevor’s bringing a van, and Jonathon has a load of packing boxes, as he only recently moved into his new house.” Leo’s eyes gleamed. “Those boys will go through your stuff like a dose of salts. I’m betting they’ll have everything packed up and loaded within an hour.” He tightened his grip on Alex’s waist. “Ready, boy?”

Once inside, Alex headed for the kitchen, following the sound of conversation that echoed through the house. His parents were seated at the kitchen table, sharing a pot of coffee.

His mother’s eyes widened as they entered the kitchen, and she jumped up in alarm. “What is
he
doing here?” she hissed, giving Leo an evil glare.

Alex ignored the dirty looks and glanced toward his father, who was, surprisingly, looking embarrassed.

Leo stepped forward to greet him. “Mr. Daniels, it’s good to see you again, sir.” Alex marveled at Leo’s patient, polite tone. “I’m only sorry we have to meet in these circumstances.” Leo held out his hand, and his father took it. He shook it briefly, before releasing it with a sideways glance at his wife, who was glaring at
him
now.

“The name’s Doug,” his father said simply.

Leo gave him a brief nod. He turned his attention to Alex’s mother, nodding in her direction, his face impassive. “Mrs. Daniels.”

His mother’s face became a mottled shade of purple. “You’ve got a nerve,” she said in a low voice dripping with venom. Alex had never seen his mother so furious. “After what you did to Alex?”

Alex had heard enough. “I’m standing right here, Mum,” he said quietly, desperately clinging to a semblance of composure which threatened to dissipate any second now. “How come you haven’t asked me how I am? If you’re
that
concerned about me….” Something flickered across her face, something he couldn’t quite interpret. A thought occurred to him, and it stunned him he hadn’t thought of this before.

“How come you didn’t ring me? You rang the police, sure, but you didn’t ring me to see how I was. Not once.” His eyes met his mother’s. “So let me get this straight. Rob tells you Leo assaulted me, and right away you’re on the phone to the police, but you didn’t ring
me
to verify any of this or see if I was okay. I call that downright weird.”

His mother’s cheeks went from being an unattractive shade of purple to deep scarlet.

And suddenly everything clicked into place. Alex stared at his mother in dawning horror. “You knew.” The words came out a whisper. “You knew it wasn’t assault. Rob told you.” He glanced quickly toward his father, whose startled expression told Alex this was news to him. “What could you hope to gain, Mum? You must’ve known, as soon as the police questioned Leo, they’d work out there was no case to answer.”

The color drained from his mother’s face.

Leo was staring at Alex’s mother in disbelief. Alex could understand that sentiment. Right now he could hardly believe it himself. His mother said nothing, her lips pressing so tightly together there was virtually no color in them.

“Do you hate Leo that much? Or me, for that matter? That you’d do something so truly heinous to try and split us up? Or is this your idea of punishing me for being gay?” He shook his head incredulously before meeting his mother’s gaze and locking eyes with her. “You know what? I don’t care anymore. I’ve had it with this family. You’ve been like this my entire life. I’ve never felt valued, appreciated, cherished… loved.” Alex swallowed at that last word. “Well, you won’t have to put up with me any longer. I’m moving out. Today.” He heard his father’s sharp intake of breath. Too late. He glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. “In fact, I’ll probably be out of your hair within the hour.”

His mother gawked at him openmouthed, not expecting this turn of events. Well, Alex had just moved past giving a damn what she thought. Whatever residual feelings he might have had for her had been swept away by the enormity of her actions.

Leo reached for his phone, and Alex let out a sigh of relief, knowing exactly what he was about to do. Trust Leo to understand how he was feeling. “Miles? Are you ready to roll? Yeah? Okay, change of plans. Get here as fast as you can.” Leo flashed him a warm smile as he finished the call. “Come on, Alex, let’s go to your room and start sorting out what needs packing. The guys will be here any minute.”

Without a single glance to his parents, Alex exited the kitchen with Leo following him. He led the way up the stairs and into his room. Once there, Leo closed the door. He held his arms open wide, and Alex walked into them, burying his face at the juncture where neck met shoulder, unable to prevent the silent, hot tears suddenly coursing down his cheeks, soaking into the fabric of Leo’s shirt. Leo said nothing but simply held him, supporting Alex as he leaned into him, needing his comforting presence.

Alex lost track of time, taking comfort from Leo’s warm, strong arms around him and the soft kisses he pressed against Alex’s hair.

“Better, boy?” Leo murmured, and Alex nodded, sniffing, inhaling Leo’s scent—a warm, earthy aroma that was pure male. Leo reached into his jeans pocket, pulled out a clean but crumpled white handkerchief, and proceeded to wipe the tears from Alex’s face.

There was a knock at the door. Alex glanced at Leo in surprise but nodded, and Leo opened the bedroom door.

Alex’s father stood there, two mugs in his hands. “Thought you might want something,” he said, handing Alex a mug of green tea. “Is coffee okay, Leo?”

Leo took the steaming mug. “Yeah, coffee’s fine. Thanks, Doug.”

His father hovered, clearly deliberating saying something. Alex could afford to be magnanimous—after all, he was about to move out—so he tentatively extended an olive branch. “Want to come in, Dad?”

His father stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. He glanced around nervously before meeting Alex’s gaze. “Look,” he began, his body language betraying his feelings of awkwardness at the situation, “about your mother….”

Alex held up a hand. “Dad, if you’ve come up here to defend her, then….”

“Hear him out, boy.” Alex looked at Leo, who was regarding him with a careful expression. “This is clearly important, or he wouldn’t be up here.” His father flashed Leo a grateful look. Leo locked eyes with Alex. “Okay, boy?”

Alex gave a nod, secretly pleased at Leo’s use of “boy” in front of his father. Leo wasn’t hiding, so he wouldn’t either.

His father began to speak, hesitantly at first. “I won’t make excuses for her, but you must believe me, Alex. I didn’t know. She told me Rob came to her really upset, because he’d seen… bruises on you, and you’d told him Leo beat you up.” Alex’s eyes widened at the blatant lies. A look of misery contorted his father’s features.

“Dad, why is she like this? I’m not imagining it, am I?”

His father shook his head. “I don’t know why she ever had kids, to be honest. Maybe because that’s what you did, right? Get married, have a couple of kids?”

Alex was amazed at the conversation taking place. His father had never spoken to him like this in his whole life.

His father gestured toward the bed. “Can I sit down for a sec?”

“Sure.”

After seating himself on the edge of the bed, his father continued. “Look, Alex, this is how she’s always been, ever since you were born. I never thought of her as the maternal type, and when she told me she was expecting you, well, I thought maybe her instincts would kick in once you were born.” He shook his head. “But it was obvious from the start she resented having children. When you were a little boy, you’d come to her for a hug, and she’d push you away. And then she got mad when I tried to hug you. Said I was making you soft. So I wasn’t to hug you either.” His eyes met Alex’s. “You probably don’t remember any of this, do you?”

“No.” Alex was dimly aware of Leo moving to stand beside him, arm reaching around his waist, and he leaned into him, grateful for his reassuring presence.

“Rob was a surprise, and I have to admit, things did get a little better when he was born,” his father acknowledged. “But Rob never seemed to want affection. Maybe that’s why they get on so well—they’ve very similar in character.” His face fell. “And as for me… I’m sorry, Alex. I have no excuse. I should have stood up to her, said something, rather than let this go on for so long. And I should have shown you more affection, instead of letting your mother dictate how I was to treat you.” He shook his head. “But this was the last straw. She had no right to call the police. And all because you were finally getting the love she couldn’t give you.”

Alex’s jaw dropped at this last comment. He glanced sharply at Leo to catch his reaction.

His father noticed, got up from the bed, and walked over to Alex and Leo. “Let’s try this again, shall we?” Smiling, he held out his hand to Leo. “Leo, I’m delighted to meet you. I’m really,
really
glad Alex has you in his life.”

Leo’s face broke into the beautiful smile Alex loved so much. They shook hands warmly, and Alex felt lighter, as though a weight had been lifted from where it had settled heavily across his shoulders. But his heart leaped when his father held his arms wide, obviously wanting Alex to hug him. Alex walked into his father’s arms and was held tightly, his head coming to rest briefly on his father’s shoulder. He stayed there for a moment, scarcely believing it was happening. Dad was hugging him. After several precious seconds, his father released him, and Alex stepped back, smiling almost shyly.

Leo’s phone warbled. “They’re outside, Alex.”

His father turned to leave. “I’ll go down and let them in, shall I? And then I’ll put the kettle on.” He paused and gave Leo a quizzical look. “Erm… exactly
who
am I letting into my house?” His lips twitched.

Leo grinned. “I’ll come down with you.” His expression sobered for a second. “What about…?”

Alex’s father was quick on the uptake. “She’s gone out,” he said. “I thought it was for the best.” He gave a half smile. “I sort of put my foot down. Now,
that
was a first.” He left, and Leo pulled Alex to him and kissed him fully on the mouth.

“I’ll be right back, boy,” he said softly. Alex favored him with an affectionate smile. Leo glanced around the room. “Now—get sorting!” He grinned and then exited the room.

Alex gazed steadily around his bedroom, taking in the view one last time before everything would change.
Yeah, but things have already changed
—
and for the better
. It was definitely time to move on.

“T
O
BE
honest, the packing wasn’t so bad,” admitted Miles, stealing a couple of fries from Jonathon’s lunch of fish and chips.

Jonathon slapped his wrist. “Hey! Hands off. You’ve already eaten yours.”

It was midday, and he, Leo, and his father were sitting in the lounge along with six men from the club, digging into fish and chips eaten straight from their paper wrappings. He already knew Jonathon, Miles, and Trevor, but the other three were strangers. They’d managed to work well in the intervening time, with Leo, Alex, and Jonathon seeing to the packing while the others carried boxes to and from the van.

Alex was amazed how quickly they’d worked, and he loved the playful banter between the men. There’d been the occasional dig at him as the only sub there, but it had all been in good fun, and Alex had really enjoyed the atmosphere. He could see the intrigued looks his father gave them from time to time, obviously trying to work out the group dynamics, but the Doms had been good-natured and polite, and his father had clearly warmed to them.

“Anyone want another mug of tea?” his dad asked, getting up and collecting crumpled paper from those who’d finished. There was a loud chorus of approval.

Leo got to his feet. “I’ll give you a hand, Doug.” They left the room.

Alex gazed at the men sprawled on the sofa, in the armchairs, and even on the floor. “Thanks, guys,” he said. “You were great.”

“Oh, don’t thank us yet, pup.” Matt grinned. “We’ve still got to get all your stuff up to Leo’s apartment.”

“Yeah, but at least there’s a lift,” added Miles.

“Besides, I know a way you can repay us,” said Jonathon, winking at the others. Alex swallowed, unsure of what was coming. Jonathon lowered his voice. “You can come to the group room some time and let us all watch Leo fuck that tight ass of yours. ’Cause
that’s
something I’d pay good money to see.” There was a wicked gleam in his eyes.